I first started Lake Loop about six months ago. Prior to that, my blogging experience had been limited to casual contributions to a group blog that my Mom had set up to share family photos. Mom and Sis both had blogs that I would check out every now and then. It got so whenever I sent a funny email, I’d hear about it: “you should be blogging that.”
Then I got laid off. All of a sudden, I had a lot more free time. I started spending more time with my friend, the internets. I caved to the pressure, and started my own blog here at Lake Loop. I didn’t really know what to expect. I have discovered a great community populated with wonderful, smart, funny, kind and supportive people. It’s truly been a super experience.
Despite all that, I still suffer waves of paranoia about the whole blogging thing. As much as I love all you random strangers I have become so fond of, the thought of people I know finding and reading the blog kind of squicks me out. I keep an eye on my Sitemeter and when I see mysterious local hits, I always get particularly spooked. Initially I had been careless with real world place names, so I went back and assigned more pseudonymous names to locales I had mentioned. I changed the name by which I reference my mate from his real world name to SodaBoy, and chose a handle for myself.
Now it’s my turn for the change. I have been blogging all this time using my real world first name. It is a very common first name for women of my generation (as noted elsewhere) and that knowledge made me feel somewhat secure. After all, if there are millions of us out there, no one will know it’s me me. However, the thought of having my real name out there and simultaneously working seems a little too risky for me. The last thing I want is people from work reading this. The horror.
To the introductions... Hi, I'm BerryBird. It’s nice to meet you!
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8 comments:
Hi BerryBird! Nice to meet you! Again...or something. Anyway. Nice name.
So good to meet you BerryBird. I have the same worries about using my real name, but I just hope I am cryptic enough to keep the real life friends away.
Hey there BerryBird! This will take some getting used to, but it's nice to meet you!
What a pleasure to make your acquaintance!
Someone from where I live recently came to read my blog too, and I'm still freaked out.
I like it when bloggers use pseudonyms, especially when their first names are common. I've got a couple of readers who comment on my blog using your real first name, but I bet you will be the only BerryBird.
Pleased to make your acquaintance, Berrybird!
You know, I must be a generation older than you. I was the only with with this name in my elementary school, and the only other one in high school spelled it in the More Traditional Way.
But when I was in college, I heard it called out all the time - usually by a parent to a toddler. I couldn't be THAT much older than you, could I?
Funnily enough, I used handles way more often in college than I do now. I've lost my naming creativity in my old age, I guess.
Sara, I had also been guessing we were in the same age bracket: thirty-somethings. You might have 2 or three years on me, but a whole generation? Impossible.
You are right, I don't remember others with our name in elementary school, but after that there were always a few around. Mostly with the traditional spelling though. This Social Security website sorts names from census data. The "Popularity of a Name" search at the bottom right is especially cool.
Our spelling never became more popular that #26 in 1981. However, the common alternative was in the top 10 from 1978-2002. Definitely later than our time. That all gels with what Mom said, that she didn't know anyone with our name, and had no idea it would become so common.
Jo(e) is right, too, about the ease factor in having a unique pseudonym. If anyone who knows me well finds the site, they will figure it out. I haven't been that mysterious. But, fellow bloggers won't have to identify me as Sara(LakeLoop) anymore.
I get very confused about the anonymity thing--I started OUT anonymously and my artist friends said I should use my real mname for name recognition for my art. Aiee. Well, pleased to meetcha--nice name! :-D
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